New Pro Bono OR project with AMMF. Volunteers apply today!

AMMF The Cholangiocarcinoma Charity

Project summary:

Project:

The charity has been consistently growing and is now at the cross roads where it must become a fully-fledged professional charity, with a larger paid staff and wider influence.  To do this, AMMF need to better understand KPIs, finance and funding strategy, as well as develop some action plans to identify a sustainable strategy. Prioritisation of these factors is important. The volunteer needs to consider all options when revising strategic planning and succession.  

Time commitment: 4 days

Location: Essex CM24 1QW

Please read projectscope and if you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return along with your CV to hope.meadows@theorsociety.com by Thursday 15^th February.   

Information about the organisation:

Main activities of the organisation: 

AMMF is the UK’s only cholangiocarcinoma charity, dedicated to tackling this devastating cancer on all fronts: providing information and support, campaigning to raise awareness, and encouraging and supporting research.

AMMF is dedicated to bringing about improvement for the cholangiocarcinoma patient, working closely throughout the UK with patients, families, carers, clinicians, healthcare professionals, researchers, politicians and policy makers.

For further information about AMMF please visit www.ammf.org.uk

For further information about the Pro Bono scheme please visit:

http://www.theorsociety.com/Probono

Pro Bono OR Project with Young Urban Arts Foundation. Volunteers welcome to apply

Young Urban Arts Foundation

Project summary:

Project:

This latest Pro Bono OR Project with Young Urban Arts Foundation is looking to aid the organisation by helping to identify the potential impact of their activities and design methods for measuring and monitoring the outcomes of their activities. Once background information has been collated, it will be up to the volunteer to recommend suitable measures and a recording system to help the organisation long term.

Time commitment: 4-5 days, to be completed by mid-May 2018

Location: Concordia Business Enterprise, 420-421 Burdett Road, London, E3 4AA

Please read projectscope and if you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return along with your CV to hope.meadows@theorsociety.com by Wednesday 31st January.

  

Information about the organisation:

Main activities of the organisation: 

Young Urban Arts Foundation aim to transform the lives of young people by strengthening their mental well-being, developing confidence, skills, self-esteem and building tools for resilience through urban arts creative activities and mental health educational programmes.

The delivery of creative arts workshops and mental health programmes to young people in disadvantaged situations.

Young Urban Arts Foundation workshops and programmes empower young people to express themselves and develop their talents in an exciting range of arts. From singing, rapping and songwriting to graphic design, cinematography and radio presenting, we offer creative workshops, school holiday tours and a range of courses and activities on our Outreach Media Bus – a stylish studio, and more, on wheels.

For further information about Young Urban Arts Foundation please visit www.yuaf.org.uk

For further information about the Pro Bono scheme please visit: http://www.theorsociety.com/Probono    

Pro Bono OR Newsletter - Assess, Appraise and Anticipate the Scheme

Pondering Pro Bono OR 2017  2017 was both successful and developmental for Pro Bono OR, with great new changes being brought forward into 2018. There are three main elements that formulate the success of Pro Bono OR, and they are, our volunteers, the Third Sector Organisations we work with and the Pro Bono Steering Group Committee. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who have been involved in a role within Pro Bono OR in 2017. Pro Bono OR saw its biggest change in 2017. Since its creation, our very own Felicity McLeister has been the face of the scheme, heeding and guiding, initiating and incentivising. My welcome, not only into pro bono, but into the OR world on a wider scale has brought insightful learning curves. Filling Felicity’s size 6’s has been both a pleasure and a privilege. Nevertheless, as we growth, change and adapt I can assure you that the original aims of objects of Pro Bono OR will never be dismissed.   2017 Projects During 2017 we were able to close 14 projects, all with great success and solutions which were tailored to the wants and needs of each organisation. With volunteers putting in the hours, completed projects equated to over £70,000 worth of billable hours. Luckily for the Third Sector, for them, our consultancy is free and will continue to be. To see our case studies head tohttp://www.theorsociety.com/Pages/Probono/casestudies.aspx.   To ensure we can take on a project, we have volunteers based all over England, Scotland and Wales, so there’s no project that goes untouched. Our volunteer numbers remain strong with over 600 members and non-members of The OR Society seeking projects in their local area. As we move into 2018 we bring with us 20 projects that are still underway, as well as numerous projects lined up to be advertised to volunteers soon. I’m proud of our scheme as it has been, and will always cater for, diverse organisations and their service users.  Whether an organisation is a start-up and needs help with strategy, or whether they’re in full swing and wondering how to best measure impact to date, and improve effectiveness or efficiency, Pro Bono OR can provide the solutions needed. Client quotes from 2017 projects  ‘It has been really helpful to have an independent set of eyes look at our processes’ -Stroke Association “This was an excellent and positive intervention which has helped us enormously… It will make our performance management information much more meaningful.” -Care4All Pro Bono Steering Group committee  At a committee level we would like to say thank you and farewell to Jon Tecwyn (BEIS) who stepped down from his role on the committee. In his place we welcomed Jon Richards (Thales) who has taken on the role whilst hitting the ground running. Thank you to the committee for your continued efforts and support. Collaboration is important now more than ever, that’s why we continue to work alongside some great organisations including: Royal Statistical Society, New Philanthropy Capital, Pro Bono Economics, NCVO, GORS, Reach and Small Charities Coalition. Whether it’s promoting an opportunity or finding the necessary skills to complete a project, we are always able to find a charitable solution to a charitable problem.   Here's a little overview from those involved in the planning, prep and precision of Pro Bono OR... Volunteer your skills for good causes. What’s next for Pro Bono? As always, Pro Bono OR is shaped by your wants and needs, so keep on sending in questions and requests of what you want to happen next. Here’s what’s to come, based on what you asked… Hints and Tips In 2017 two of our Pro Bono committee members ran a hints and tips workshop at OR59, designed to give you some inside info on that all important first meeting with the client. You can find resources here... http://probonoor.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/or59-pro-bono-consultancy-tips-and.html. In 2018 we will continue to provide hints and tips on more of our Pro Bono OR processes, including CV and application advice, project management and consultancy guidance. If there any particular elements you’d like covered then please email me and let me know your query. I’m in the early stages of my OR career, what is the likelihood that I will get chosen for a project? We encourage early careers OR applicants to apply for projects they have a particular interest in. Applications are sent to the Third Sector organisation who then chose the volunteer they’d like to work with on the project. If your application appeals to the organisation and their mission then there’s nothing stopping you from being chosen. If you’re willing, but not quite confident enough to tackle a project on your own, then we have a solution for that to. When you send in an application, request to have a mentor who can help guide you through the project. Our mentors are the best of the best in the OR community. Why should I apply if I am repeatedly unsuccessful? Some volunteers find themselves unsuccessful for several projects. In the past we haven’t delved into why this is the case on an individual basis. However, in 2018, upon your request, we will be hosting CV workshops and posting advice and guidance to help you get chosen. To start you off, here’s two bits of crucial advice: 1. The number one piece of advice that I can give to you is, remember it’s the Third Sector organisation who reads your application and decides your fate. This means writing without assumption; using language a ‘non-OR’ person will understand. Tell them what OR technique you will use, tell them what it is, then tell them why it will work. 2. Secondly, it’s important to identify the characteristics of the Third Sector; the sector comes with more passion than date night! And those who work in the industry often have an emotional connection to the cause. Highlight the cause and tell them why it’s also important to you. You don’t need a personal story, simply acknowledge that you understand how important the cause is. How often are projects advertised? Project adverts don’t run by a schedule. Once an organisation registers interest to receive Pro Bono OR support, a member of the committee will take time to speak with the contact to discuss the project and its OR elements. The scoping process varies in time according to the size of the project, the time availability of the organisation and the small task of drawing up a project ad. Although I cannot give you confirmed ad dates, I can promise you quality projects, that are mutually beneficial, and they are coming your way. If you have so many volunteers why should I sign up? Although we have a strong number of volunteers, the projects that we take on are diverse. Projects need practitioners and academics, as well as a wide range of skills and techniques. You might not be the only person in the UK with the necessary skills for a project, but there’s a chance you’ll be the person we need on site to get the job done. We offer services to aid strategic planning, impact measurement, process improvement, data analysis, efficiency improvement, options appraisal, decision making and many others… The techniques that can be used are endless, and so will be our volunteer list. If you’re still not convinced, then here’s 5 reasons to sign up to volunteer today…http://probonoor.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/free-time-is-precious-why-become-pro.html Thank you again to all those who invested in Pro Bono OR in 2017. As we move into 2018 we will continue to do more whilst achieving our original aims of helping the Third sector, promoting OR and providing opportunities for OR analysts to practice in a wider arena and develop skills and knowledge. We currently have several projects that are accepting applications. For project details and application please visit http://probonoor.blogspot.co.uk/. If you’d like any more information about Pro Bono OR then please contact Hope Meadows,hope.meadows@theorsociety.com.

Volunteer Wanted! New Project with Education United

Education United

Project summary:

Project:

Education United is currently looking to design a data gathering and performance management system. The organisation is looking for support in data gathering, performance measurement and management methods, as well as strategic planning and development using data. Data gathering will be the key to success within the organisation as they plan to conduct data from mentors and teachers on in-country placements.

Time commitment: 4 days

Location: Remote working. Distance collaboration via skype calls and video conference. 

Please read projectscope and if you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return along with your CV to hope.meadows@theorsociety.com by Friday 19th January.

  

Information about the organisation:

Main activities of the organisation: 

-Generate links with schools in developing countries.

-Education United to audit linked schools to assess organisational ability, student attendance, teaching capability and effectiveness.

-Generate database of UK trained teacher volunteers to conduct in-country placement with linked school.

-Reconcile volunteer’s teaching capabilities and experience against the needs of linked schools to identify and target where the most impact can be had. Prepare volunteers for mentoring activities specific to linked school.

-Volunteers to conduct mentoring, coaching and training activities in linked schools to improve teaching outcomes and educational impact for children. Activities to be aligned with individual school needs identified during Education united audit.

-Volunteers to conduct audit during placement to ascertain update on previous data.

-Volunteers maintain distance mentorship one their in-country placement has finished via controlled emailing to continue impact measures.

Education United aims to support teachers in the developing world through mentoring and coaching with UK trained and based teachers. Through in-country placement of UK trained teachers and subsequent distance mentoring, Education United intends to have a sustainable and resilient impact on teacher and school development in the developing world and as a result, improve education for current and future generations of children in those areas.

For further information about Education United please visit http://www.educationunited.co.uk/

For further information about the Pro Bono scheme please visit: http://www.theorsociety.com/Probono   

Volunteer Wanted! New Project with Hands Inc.

Hands Inc.

Project summary:

Project:

Hands Inc. are looking to expand their work, scaling up their innovative programme of activities and launching a new campaign.

Hands Inc. are looking to develop a fundraising strategy. In order to do this, the organisation would like to identify the people and organisations that have reason to support the charity and recognise an effective way to engage and communicate with supporters.

This project could be split into two phases:

1.      Diagnosis and prioritisation – reviewing data on current service provision (costs, resources, sources of funding, impacts) and helping the Directors/Trustees identify and prioritise options for new service development (including potential risks)

2.      Development of a scale-up plan and supporting fundraising strategy – covering the organisational requirements (capacity, capability) as well as the funding

Knowledge of the voluntary sector and/or of funders would be helpful. A range of OR skills would be appropriate: problem structuring, options assessment & prioritization plus data collection and analysis.

Time commitment: 5-10 days

Location: Remotely or in our office in N16

Please read projectscope and if you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return along with your CV to hope.meadows@theorsociety.com by Friday 19th January.

  

Information about the organisation:

Main activities of the organisation: 

Hands Inc developed in 2001 in response to the need for massage and respite care within distressed families. Complementary therapies now form a small part of their operation (10% or less). The main focus of their work (and the focus of any future expansion activity) is supporting menopausal women and reducing the stigma and negativity menopausal women face.

Hands Inc, is a registered Charity whose mission is to inspire health and wellbeing; this is achieved through the provision of holistic support and healthy lifestyle activities.

For further information about Hands Inc. please visit http://www.handsinc.co.uk/ and https://reclaimthemenopause.com/

For further information about the Pro Bono scheme please visit: http://www.theorsociety.com/Probono